IS it worth fixing up?
05-30-2012 | 12:46 PM
#1
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From: Louisville, ky
IS it worth fixing up?
Hello all! I am new to the site and this my be a question asked before so bare with me please.
I am in the market for my 1st boat. on a budget as everyone else is but was wondering what the cost of repairs or if the current boat i am interested in is worth buying.
THE BOAT- 89 four winns liberator 261 twin gm 350s on I beam alluminum trailer (tri axle)
THE CONCERNS -
the original moters pulled now has twin 350 ( any concers? is this common cause of easy to work on? anything i should be lookin for? )
one of the lower units leaks fluid ( was told mite be bent shaft....sounds like it didnt get winterized to me) ( cost? )
a screw was drivin through the hull ( cost of patch? cost of having whole hull redone? )
side vent windows are missing on windshield ( cost? easy or hard to find? )
teak platform busted from fat asses(lol) (replace? options? teak or alluminum)
top of boat faded (wax? buff? cost of bringing back to life?)
floor and carpet need work in cockpit areas (cost easy or hard?)
the guy is saying he is guna fix it up before selling and is guna ask 10,000 was thinkin i could get a deal buying as is and take a year to restore it. not sure how low to offer with all that needs done. or is it worth looking for something water ready. my total budget would be 15,000 i have fonnd same boat in better condition for sale in michigan for 13,000
i enjoy fixing things up and knowing they were done wright but if it is a lost cause i understand.
thanx for ur input.
I am in the market for my 1st boat. on a budget as everyone else is but was wondering what the cost of repairs or if the current boat i am interested in is worth buying.
THE BOAT- 89 four winns liberator 261 twin gm 350s on I beam alluminum trailer (tri axle)
THE CONCERNS -
the original moters pulled now has twin 350 ( any concers? is this common cause of easy to work on? anything i should be lookin for? )
one of the lower units leaks fluid ( was told mite be bent shaft....sounds like it didnt get winterized to me) ( cost? )
a screw was drivin through the hull ( cost of patch? cost of having whole hull redone? )
side vent windows are missing on windshield ( cost? easy or hard to find? )
teak platform busted from fat asses(lol) (replace? options? teak or alluminum)
top of boat faded (wax? buff? cost of bringing back to life?)
floor and carpet need work in cockpit areas (cost easy or hard?)
the guy is saying he is guna fix it up before selling and is guna ask 10,000 was thinkin i could get a deal buying as is and take a year to restore it. not sure how low to offer with all that needs done. or is it worth looking for something water ready. my total budget would be 15,000 i have fonnd same boat in better condition for sale in michigan for 13,000
i enjoy fixing things up and knowing they were done wright but if it is a lost cause i understand.
thanx for ur input.
05-30-2012 | 01:08 PM
#2
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 272
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From: Colonial Beach, VA
My primary concern is if these are the issues he is admitting to, what are the underlying issues he is not telling you about? I am not a big Liberator fan. Not sure what your budget is, but a new lower unit, swim platform, hole in the hull and new floor could all add up very quickly. And like I said, these are just the things you know about right now. When a boat is abused or damaged like this, the chances are very high there will be lots of other issues that "pop up" when you start tearing into it. I have restored several boats and it is never quite that easy.... As a first boat, probably not a great idea. Just my opinion though.
Do you have any pics?
Do you have any pics?
05-30-2012 | 01:30 PM
#4
Gold Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 959
From: Seaford, VA
Hello all! I am new to the site and this my be a question asked before so bare with me please.
I am in the market for my 1st boat. on a budget as everyone else is but was wondering what the cost of repairs or if the current boat i am interested in is worth buying.
THE BOAT- 89 four winns liberator 261 twin gm 350s on I beam alluminum trailer (tri axle)
THE CONCERNS -
the original moters pulled now has twin 350 ( any concers? is this common cause of easy to work on? anything i should be lookin for? )No way to know without runnign them, doing a compression test, etc.... They could run for 1000 more trouble free hours, or you could start them the first time and find out the exhaust risers are rusted through and hydrolock the motors. Cost - 0-$5000+
one of the lower units leaks fluid ( was told mite be bent shaft....sounds like it didnt get winterized to me) ( cost? )New Lower Unit from the Chinese Manufacturer woudl provide for a quick fix. If he hasn't winterized it the truth is he probably hasn't done much other general maintenance, and I can tell you first hand you can spend $1000 on new Gimbal Bearings, Exhaust Bellows, U-Joint Bellows, and Shift cable belows real quickly. Cost - 900-2000 assuming both uppers are useable as is.
a screw was drivin through the hull ( cost of patch? cost of having whole hull redone? ) Patch - pretty cheap, but I'd be more concerned with what kind of water intrusion went into the hull and the resultant unseen damage.
side vent windows are missing on windshield ( cost? easy or hard to find? )Most of that stuff is made by one of a couple marine accessory companies, but I would assume the worst - that it is hard to find.
teak platform busted from fat asses(lol) (replace? options? teak or alluminum)I would think a used teak replacement (if you could find one) might be a couple hundred bucks. A nice aluminum replacement could be a couple thousand.
top of boat faded (wax? buff? cost of bringing back to life?)There are products to rid the boat of the oxidation, it just depends on how far gone it is. Cost - $100 in wax all the way though a few thousand if you decided to paint the deck fromt he rub-rail up.
floor and carpet need work in cockpit areas (cost easy or hard?)Hard to say - does it need new carpet or is it rotted and needs replacement. If it needs carpet - 200 bucks, if it needs a floor replacement then you've answered your question on whether you want to buy this boat or not.
the guy is saying he is guna fix it up before selling and is guna ask 10,000 was thinkin i could get a deal buying as is and take a year to restore it. not sure how low to offer with all that needs done. or is it worth looking for something water ready. my total budget would be 15,000 i have fonnd same boat in better condition for sale in michigan for 13,000
i enjoy fixing things up and knowing they were done wright but if it is a lost cause i understand.
thanx for ur input.
I am in the market for my 1st boat. on a budget as everyone else is but was wondering what the cost of repairs or if the current boat i am interested in is worth buying.
THE BOAT- 89 four winns liberator 261 twin gm 350s on I beam alluminum trailer (tri axle)
THE CONCERNS -
the original moters pulled now has twin 350 ( any concers? is this common cause of easy to work on? anything i should be lookin for? )No way to know without runnign them, doing a compression test, etc.... They could run for 1000 more trouble free hours, or you could start them the first time and find out the exhaust risers are rusted through and hydrolock the motors. Cost - 0-$5000+
one of the lower units leaks fluid ( was told mite be bent shaft....sounds like it didnt get winterized to me) ( cost? )New Lower Unit from the Chinese Manufacturer woudl provide for a quick fix. If he hasn't winterized it the truth is he probably hasn't done much other general maintenance, and I can tell you first hand you can spend $1000 on new Gimbal Bearings, Exhaust Bellows, U-Joint Bellows, and Shift cable belows real quickly. Cost - 900-2000 assuming both uppers are useable as is.
a screw was drivin through the hull ( cost of patch? cost of having whole hull redone? ) Patch - pretty cheap, but I'd be more concerned with what kind of water intrusion went into the hull and the resultant unseen damage.
side vent windows are missing on windshield ( cost? easy or hard to find? )Most of that stuff is made by one of a couple marine accessory companies, but I would assume the worst - that it is hard to find.
teak platform busted from fat asses(lol) (replace? options? teak or alluminum)I would think a used teak replacement (if you could find one) might be a couple hundred bucks. A nice aluminum replacement could be a couple thousand.
top of boat faded (wax? buff? cost of bringing back to life?)There are products to rid the boat of the oxidation, it just depends on how far gone it is. Cost - $100 in wax all the way though a few thousand if you decided to paint the deck fromt he rub-rail up.
floor and carpet need work in cockpit areas (cost easy or hard?)Hard to say - does it need new carpet or is it rotted and needs replacement. If it needs carpet - 200 bucks, if it needs a floor replacement then you've answered your question on whether you want to buy this boat or not.
the guy is saying he is guna fix it up before selling and is guna ask 10,000 was thinkin i could get a deal buying as is and take a year to restore it. not sure how low to offer with all that needs done. or is it worth looking for something water ready. my total budget would be 15,000 i have fonnd same boat in better condition for sale in michigan for 13,000
i enjoy fixing things up and knowing they were done wright but if it is a lost cause i understand.
thanx for ur input.
I'd find something that was running and you could sea-trial if I was working on a 15k budget.
A lot of guys on here will tell you they went down the path that you are and ended up with WAY too much (time, money and resources) into a boat.
05-30-2012 | 01:34 PM
#5
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 387
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From: Wayland, MI
Heres how it works:
You will have 2 years worth of work on nights and weekends, while exceeding your budget by a lot of money. AND you will still having an old, hard to sell boat, that you are in to for double what its worth.
Keep looking, those weren"t that great of boats to begin with. Its a buyers market and for your 15k you can be on the water this weekend-turn key.
You will have 2 years worth of work on nights and weekends, while exceeding your budget by a lot of money. AND you will still having an old, hard to sell boat, that you are in to for double what its worth.
Keep looking, those weren"t that great of boats to begin with. Its a buyers market and for your 15k you can be on the water this weekend-turn key.
05-30-2012 | 02:02 PM
#6
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 272
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From: Colonial Beach, VA
There are a lot of nice boats out there for $15k. A LOT! You do not need to buy a "project boat" with that budget. I would pass on this one and not even feel bad about it.
Find something mid-90's with fuel injection and single motor. With $15k, you can find a real nice one. If your set on twins, $15k for a real nice one may be on the low side, unless you find someone desperate to get rid of one...
Also budget about $1000 to oufit it with all items you may need. Lines, safety items, potential tune-up, electronics, trailer work, etc.... Purchasing the boat is just the start of a long, unending love with money deserting your pockets. Lol!
Find something mid-90's with fuel injection and single motor. With $15k, you can find a real nice one. If your set on twins, $15k for a real nice one may be on the low side, unless you find someone desperate to get rid of one...
Also budget about $1000 to oufit it with all items you may need. Lines, safety items, potential tune-up, electronics, trailer work, etc.... Purchasing the boat is just the start of a long, unending love with money deserting your pockets. Lol!
05-30-2012 | 05:56 PM
#9
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Posts: 26
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From: In the garage
05-30-2012 | 06:13 PM
#10
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 76
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From: Louisville, ky
thanx to all, i think i will just keep shopping. i am familiar with boats and boating but my experience is 20ft run abouts and pontoons. but for my first purshase im looking for 25ft - 30ft with a little more ummff. as the search continues i am sure i will have lots of questions.
thanx again to all
thanx again to all
